2015 Philmont Scout Ranch flash flood

Natural disaster Philmont Scout Ranch flash flood the 1965 flash flood Philmont Scout Ranch#1965 flash flood May 2025 February 2025 2015 Philmont Scout Ranch flash flood PhilmontFlood2.jpg Flooding at the Pueblano campsite 1-2 hours June 27, 2015 Philmont Scout Ranch and other areas in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States 36 27 15 N 104 57 21 W inline,title Flash flood Alden Brock On the morning of June 27, 2015, heavy rain occurred in a great portion of the Scouting reserve Philmont Scout Ranch, which is near Cimarron, New Mexico, United States, causing a flash flood. The flood also affected some other nearby areas in Colfax County that morning, including highways and small towns around Philmont. One youth Scout, Alden Brock, who was situated in a campsite within the staff camp Indian Writings, drowned while being swept away by the flood. The flood also had a significant impact on many individual crews and treks and significantly damaged some campsites. The 2015 flash flood is the largest documented flood in the history of Philmont, and is the only flood at Philmont that has ever caused the death of a person. Background Throughout much of the summer of 2015, parts of New Mexico were experiencing a monsoon season, likely due to an El Niño. Wet summer means safer forests, happier farmers, ferocious pests Santa Fe New Mexican Matlock Staci 18 July 2015 http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/wet-summer-means-safer-forests-happier-farmers-ferocious-pests/article_8891132d-9ea0-5de2-b2e0-f80a0da2048b.html 2016-01-16 The flood of '15: Philmont comes together PhilNews 24 July 2015 http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/filestore/philmont/pdf/Philnews_2015/2015PhilNews_7.pdf 2016-01-14 Throughout the season, there had been many other flash flood warnings across New Mexico due to large storms. More storms forecast after city pounded by hail, rain Santa Fe New Mexican Nott Robert 8 July 2015 http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/more-storms-forecast-after-city-pounded-by-hail-rain/article_a0915728-5598-51eb-8f36-ae6665df2fa0.html 2016-01-15 Fifty years before the 2015 flood, on June 17, 1965, a similar flash flood had occurred at Philmont Scout Ranch. Flood On the night of June 26, the night before the flood, there were reports of hail and light rain Details of deadly flash flood that killed Boy Scout raise questions of oversight Santa Fe New Mexican Chacón Daniel 26 September 2015 http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/details-of-deadly-flash-flood-raise-questions-of-oversight/article_ba4cd170-af60-5eb7-a7af-22f77c9a41b8.html 2016-01-15 in some areas of Philmont. On the early hours of the morning of June 27, the rain became heavier. Around 3:30A.M., the National Weather Service issued a statement highlighting the threat of a flash flood in the area. At around 4:30A.M., a flash flood, with water levels of over 20 feet at the highest, Boy Scout killed in flash flood at Philmont Ranch Albuquerque Journal Perez Nicole 27 June 2015 http://www.abqjournal.com/605500/news/boy-scout-dies-in-flash-flood-that-swept-over-camp-police-say.html 2016-01-29 Boy Scout Troops honor teen scout killed in flood KRQE 29 June 2015 http://krqe.com/2015/06/29/flood-victim-identified-as-13-year-old-boy-scout-from-cali/ 2016-01-15 November 2, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151102062153/http://krqe.com/2015/06/29/flood-victim-identified-as-13-year-old-boy-scout-from-cali/ dead occurred in several areas of Philmont. Sacramento Boy Scout swept away in New Mexico flash flood identified The Sacramento Bee 29 June 2015 https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article25770799.html 2016-01-15 Flash Flood: Suggested Donation/Support Philmont Scout Ranch 2 July 2015 http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/~/~/%E2%80%9C~/link.aspx?_id=E23CEDC9F5744354ADB56928D51835F2&_z=z%E2%80%9D 2016-01-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130009/http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/~/~/%E2%80%9C~/link.aspx?_id=E23CEDC9F5744354ADB56928D51835F2&_z=z%E2%80%9D 4 March 2016 dead News Release - 6/27/2015 Philmont Scout Ranch 27 June 2015 http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/~/~/%E2%80%9C~/%E2%80%9C~/link.aspx?_id=829043D2C6F54040B330C6D8D1FE4C6B&_z=z%E2%80%9D 2016-01-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20160422092808/http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/~/~/%E2%80%9C~/%E2%80%9C~/link.aspx?_id=829043D2C6F54040B330C6D8D1FE4C6B&_z=z%E2%80%9D 22 April 2016 dead Some reported loud thunder and nearby lightning strikes before and during the flood. Scouts in New Mexico flash flood continue trek after death The Sacramento Bee Locke Cathy 30 June 2015 https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article25933819.html 2016-01-15 Statement From John Green, BSA High Adventure Group Director Philmont Scout Ranch Green John 3 July 2015 http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/~/~/%E2%80%9C~/~/link.aspx?_id=C4971E900D924B83B09ACBA4585D37B8&_z=z 2016-01-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091938/http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/~/~/%E2%80%9C~/~/link.aspx?_id=C4971E900D924B83B09ACBA4585D37B8&_z=z 4 March 2016 dead Outside of Philmont, there had been reports of mudflows and flooding along U.S. Route 64. Flood that hit Boy Scouts may have reached 20 feet The Albuquerque Journal Lohmann Patrick 29 June 2015 http://www.abqjournal.com/605774/news/flood-that-hit-boy-scouts-may-have-reached-20-feet.html 2016-02-13 Boulders also tumbled down from canyons in the Cimarron area, causing damage to and blockage of roads. Flooding in North Ponil/Cimarron Canyon Kill One and Close Hiway 64 KRTN 27 June 2015 http://krtnradio.com/2015/06/27/flooding-in-north-ponilcimarron-canyon-kill-one-and-close-hiway-64/ 2016-01-16 Death of Alden Brock The morning of June 27, when the flood occurred, Crew 380 from Sacramento, California, was entering the third day of their twelve-day trek. They were situated at a campsite in Indian Writingshttp://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/details-of-deadly-flash-flood-raise-questions-of-oversight/article_ba4cd170-af60-5eb7-a7af-22f77c9a41b8.html Details of deadly flash flood that killed Boy Scout raise questions of oversight Chacón Daniel 26 September 2015 Santa Fe New Mexican 2016-01-15 near North Ponil Canyonhttp://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3838562.shtml#.VpmFbBgrLzv Boy Scout killed in Philmont Scout Ranch flash flood identified as Sacramento, Cali. boy Miller Blair 29 June 2015 KOB 2016-01-15 that was about 20 feet above a small portion of Ponil Creek.http://www.abqjournal.com/605774/news/flood-that-hit-boy-scouts-may-have-reached-20-feet.html Flood that hit Boy Scouts may have reached 20 feet Lohmann Patrick 29 June 2015 The Albuquerque Journal 2016-02-13https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article25933819.html Scouts in New Mexico flash flood continue trek after death Locke Cathy 30 June 2015 The Sacramento Bee 2016-01-15 Troop 606, from Irving, Texas, had recently camped at Ponil Canyon the night before, bringing the rising rivers to staff members attention. Four members of Crew 380, including 13 year-old Alden Brock, the ranger assisting the crew, and two other youth Scouts were swept away by the flood from their campsite at about 4:30am.https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article25770799.html Sacramento Boy Scout swept away in New Mexico flash flood identified 29 June 2015 The Sacramento Bee 2016-01-15http://www.abqjournal.com/606012/abqnewsseeker/scout-killed-in-flash-flood-at-philmont-scout-ranch-was-from-sacramento-california.html Scout's death sparks comfort campaign Shepard Maggie 29 June 2015 The Albuquerque Tribune 2016-01-15 The New Mexico State Police arrived at around 9:35am on a search and rescue mission.http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2015/06/28/Boy-Scout-dies-three-rescued-in-New-Mexico-flash-flood/2771435503192/ Boy Scout dies, three rescued in New Mexico flash flood Connolly Amy 28 June 2015 United Press International 2016-01-16 The two Scouts and the ranger were quickly located but not Brock.July 2018 They found Brock dead at around 11:00am,http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/4_alabama_boy_scout_troops_lea.html 4 Alabama Boy Scout Troops leave New Mexico ranch on same day teen died in flash flood there Dethrage Stephen 28 June 2015 The Birmingham News 2016-01-16 approximately one mile away from the location from which he was originally swept. Crew 380 decided to finish their trek despite the incident in honor of Brock.http://krqe.com/2015/06/29/flood-victim-identified-as-13-year-old-boy-scout-from-cali/ Boy Scout Troops honor teen scout killed in flood 29 June 2015 KRQE 2016-01-15 November 2, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151102062153/http://krqe.com/2015/06/29/flood-victim-identified-as-13-year-old-boy-scout-from-cali/ dead Brock's death received nationwide attention, particularly from the Scouting community; fatalities are exceedingly rare at Philmont, and this was the only flood-related fatality in Philmont's history.July 2018 Aftermath 250px|right|thumb|Excessive brush accumulated as a result of the flood. Shortly after the incident, Philmont staff notified the families of Scouts involved in the flood. Boy Scout dies in New Mexico ranch flooding USA Today Onyanga-Omara Jane 28 June 2015 https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/06/28/boy-scout-dies-flooding/29420383/ 2016-01-15 Many crews at Philmont associated with the flood were temporarily withheld by Philmont staff until further notice because of logistical issues and because of significant damage to trails. Philmont and the New Mexico State Police also offered counseling for those involved in the flood. 13-year-old Boy Scout killed in flash flood The Weather Network Ibrahim Dalia 30 June 2015 http://www.theweathernetwork.com/us/news/articles/13-year-old-boy-scout-killed-in-flash-flood/53577/ 2016-01-15 Many crews affected by the flood had lost many necessary items, such as tents, backpacks, and other camping gear. Crew 211 & Troop 211 survives Ponil Creek Flash Flood ASP Westward 9 August 2015 http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/west_university/news/crew-troop-survives-ponil-creek-flash-flood/article_dd6025a0-c428-595a-8d21-8a8cf3b642a4.html 2016-01-15 Several trails and bridges were also severely damaged by the flood. Boy Scouts Encounter Roses And Thorns On 52-Mile Hike The Falmouth Enterprise O'Brien Lannan 21 August 2015 http://www.capenews.net/falmouth/news/boy-scouts-encounter-roses-and-thorns-on--mile-hike/article_279e718c-4812-11e5-8afb-e361a2712859.html 2016-01-16 Because of debris, mudflows, and road blockage, a large portion of U.S. Route 64 in New Mexico was closed for a period of nearly one full day. Crews affected by the flood were given the opportunity to choose whether they were to continue their treks or to leave Philmont. Some crews decided to leave Philmont, 4 Alabama Boy Scout Troops leave New Mexico ranch on same day teen died in flash flood there The Birmingham News Dethrage Stephen 28 June 2015 http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/4_alabama_boy_scout_troops_lea.html 2016-01-16 while many decided to continue their treks. The New Mexico State Police investigated the flood further with the intent of providing more information to improve future preparedness, but came to no conclusions. The investigators believed that the incident could not have easily been prevented. Some campsites at Ponil, Cook Canyon, and Indian Writings were moved to higher ground. See also California Scouting Weather 2015 Ghost Ranch flash flood Ute Park Fire References 30em Category:2015 in New Mexico Category:2015 natural disasters in the United States Category:Accidental deaths in New Mexico Category:Philmont Scout Ranch Category:Scouting Philmont Scout Ranch flash flood Scout R Category:Natural disasters in New Mexico Category:Flash floods